Adjustable step jack



July 15, 1924. 1,501,548

J. w. BATE ADJUSTABLE STEP JACK 4Filed June 4, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l `Iuly 15 '1924.

I J. w. BATE ADJUSTABLE STEP JA-CK Filed June 4. 19255 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JOU W. BATE, 0F RACINE, WSCN.

' ADJUSTABLE STEP JACK.

Application filed June e, 1923. serial No. esai.

To all (whom it may conce/m:

Be it lmown that I,- JoHN W. Barn, a citizen of the United States, residin at Racine, in the county of Racine and tate of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Adjustable Step Jacks, ofwhich the following is a specifcation.

This invention relates to adjustable steps for jacks and the like and is fully described kin the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a jack embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the jack, and

`F ig. 4. is a vertical section on the line 4 4 of Fi 3. l p

The emodiment illustratedk comprises a hollow pressed sheet metal housing 10 secured to a bar 11 bV means of rivets 12. A rack bar 13 is sli ably mounted therein and is operated in a well known manner by means of an oscillating ymember 14 which is pivotally mounted between thel sides of the ousing 10 on the rivet 15,. n

A shoe 16 extends around the front of the housing 10 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and is secured at its upper end 17 to the rack bar 13 by means of reduced ends 13 which also passes loosely through a cap 18 and is riveted over at 13b to retain the cap thereon. A rail 19 and spacer 20 are secured to the shoe 16 of the upper end by means of a rivet 21. The rail 19, spacer 20 and shoe 16 are secured at their lower ends to the lower end of the rack bar 13 by means of a rivet 22. The front of the housing 10 is provided with a vertical slot 23 which permits the rivet 22 and a shouldered extension 13c ofthe rack bar to pass therethrough. A bracket 24 loosely enga es the edges of the rail 19 so as to be 'slida" le thereon. A step 25 is hingedly mounted therein on a rivet 26.k The lower end of this step is cut away at 25so as to permit it to freely swing toward and from the rail 19. The inner side of the step is provided with a lug 27 which is adapted to a series of openings 28 at the front of the rail 19, the step` is constantly pressed toward the rail by means of a sprlng 29.

`It will be apparent from the foregoing that when'the lu 27 ls in one of the holes 28 the upper end 25b o the step may be used to li t a considerable weight such as the" axle of an automobile, the weight serving to keep the lug in engagement with the hole in the rail 19, because of .fthe position of the rivet 26. If, however, the operator wishes to raise or lower the step 25 with respect to the rack bar he grasps the lower hooked end 25c of the step and pulls it outward compressing the spring 29, at the same time sliding the step up orV down to the desired point when the lug 27 is again placed in one of the holes 28. The ends of the rivets 21 and 22 prevent the step and slider from being removed from the rail.

ihile I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modications. Changes therefore in the construction and arrangement ina be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in :the appended claims, in which it is my intention to claim all novelty inherent in my invention as broadly as possible in View of the prior art.

I claim:

1. In a jack, a vertically movable lifting member, a track secured thereto forming a liftin unit said unit having a series of notc es therein, a bracket slidably mounted on said track, a step hingedly mountedv on said bracket, a lu on said step, and means for yieldingly ho ding said lugI in engagement with said notches.

2. In a jack, a vertically movable lifting member, a track carried by said member, said track having a series of notches therein, a bracket slidably mounted on said track, a step hingedly mounted on said bracket, a lug on said step, and a spring holding said lug in engagement with said notches.

3. In a jack, a housing, a vertically movable lifting member slidable therein, a track outside said housing and secured to said member. said track having a series of notches therein, a bracket slidably mounted on said track, a step hingedly mounted on said bracket, a lug on said step, and means vfor ieldin l holding said lug in engage- Y g Y ment with sa1d notches. 

